Fifteen-year-old Khurt Yvan V. Caligan of Flora National High School (FNHS) may be new to wrestling, but his story already stands out.
In his debut at the Palarong Pambansa 2025, Caligan clinched bronze in the Wrestling Cadet Boys 50kg category, a feat made more remarkable by the fact that he only started wrestling in 2024 and trained for just a month before the national meet.
“Masayang masaya po ako dahil nakakuha ako ng bronze medal,” Caligan shared in an interview. “Hindi lahat ay nagkaka-medalya, at first time ko pong makapaglaro sa Palarong Pambansa.”
He opened the tournament with a loss to National Capital Region (NCR), but quickly turned things around by winning his next two bouts, enough to secure a podium finish. The short training window, he admitted, made the journey tougher.
“Hindi naging madali ang training ko. Sobrang hirap dahil kulang na kulang ang isang buwan na preparation,” he said. “Ang mga kalaro ko po ay taon nang nag-eensayo. Kaya next year, paghahandaan ko talaga.”
His mornings began early. Training was tough. And the opponents were bigger and more experienced. But Khurt Yvan pushed through.
“Kaya nagpapasalamat po ako sa Panginoon kasi hindi ako nagka-injury kahit mas malalaki ang mga kasama kong nag-training,” he added.
He credited much of his success to Coach Dexter P. Mangibunong, who helped him navigate the technical and mental side of competition, and to his family, who stood by him regardless of the result. “Manalo man o matalo, nandiyan pa rin sila para sumuporta sakin,” he said.
The Provincial Government of Apayao (PGA) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Flora also extended financial support for his training camp in Manila, a gesture he said made his participation possible.
To other young athletes, his message was simple: “Train hard like a champion, para balang araw maging champion din kayo at maabot niyo ang mga pangarap niyo gaya ko.”
From a month of training to a medal at the country’s biggest youth sports event, Caligan’s story is one of raw determination, quiet courage, and a reminder that sometimes, the heart is the strongest muscle of all. By Diocen Tolentino